Island



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC LINDSLEY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

MAKING GOLD CHAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 29,503, dated August 7, 1860.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC LINDSLEY, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Making Gold or other Metallic Chains for VVatch-Guards and Like Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a plan of the outside of a chain link as it is cut from the sheet. Fig. 2, is a plan of the inner or reverse side of the same. Fig. 3, is a view showing the thickness of the link, and a section of the arm through line a, a, of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Nos. l and 2, vrepresents the link as it is bent up in forming and connecting` the chain. Fig. 5, represents a chain composed of the above links. Fig. G, is a plan of the inner side of a link, to the center of which is clenched the arms of another link. Fig. 7 is a transverse section through line cl, CZ, of Fig. 6. Figs. 8 and 9, represent the cutter and die used in forming the links.

Similar letters of reference where they occur denote like parts in the different figures.

My improvement has special reference to what is known as the Adelaide or clenched chain, in which the links are stamped or cut from a strip of metal, having three or more radial arms e, c, Figs. l and 2, terminating in a knob or enlargement s, s, which on bein;f turned or bent up, as shown in Fig. 4, with the knobs clasped and clenched by a stroke or blow from a punch, as shown in Fig. 6, upon the center of another link which in its turn, is, in like manner clenched with a third, forms a continuous chain, which irrespective of the peculiar form given to the arms of the links, is not unlike that represented by Fig. 5.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar form imparted to the arms of the link, by the punch and die when they are cut from the strip, whereby a chain differing in appearance, or style, is produced, having the advantage of greater strength in the same thickness of metal, at the same time being more supple or ieXible, and is susceptible of certain variations in style, resulting from the processes of lapping coloring and polishing not attainable in the ordinary Adelaide or clenched chain.

To enable others skilled in the art to make use of my invention, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings.

The face of the punch Gr, Figs. 8 and 9, is wrought in the proper form to cut a shape like Figs. l, and 2, from a strip of gold or metal, when operating in connection with a cutting die E, having an aperture similar in size and form or shape through the same. But instead of forming that portion of the punch which cuts the arms flat, with a square cutting edge, I make this part of the punch with a rounded projecting surface t, t,-or ridge-which acts to push the met-al into the aperture in the die, before it is severed from the strip, thereby shaping the arms in the form of the letter V, transversely, as shown in Fig. 7, which shape imparts a rounded or convex form to the outside of the arm, instead of a flat plane surface, which gives the chain a novel appearance (or style), and at the same time imparts both strength and stiffness to the arms, thus permitting the use of much thinner and lighter stock than is ever worked into the ordinary form of this chain.

I do not claim the within described method of connecting the links by clenching one with another, in lieu of soldering, as this is a well known construction; neither do I claim forming the body of each link into a dome disk or cap, as this improvement was patented by James Launcelott May 4th, 1858, I also disclaim the method herein mentioned of pushing the metal into the die previous to severing it from the strip, irrespective of its application in forming the arms of the links as set forth.

Having thus described fully the nature and advantages of my invention, what I claim therein, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is-

F orming the arms of the links convexoconcave, in the operation of cutting the said link from the sheet, or strip of metal, substantially in the manner and to the end herein specified.

ISAAC LIND SLEY.

Witnesses:

EDWARD P. TIFFANY, ISAAC A. BRowNELL. 

